EPS3100 European Project Semester - Supporting Courses Course description

Admission to the programme. 

None.

On completion of the course, the student has the following learning outcomes, defined as knowledge, skills, and general competence.

Knowledge

The student knows:

• how to plan, manage and execute a project
• the conventions for different forms of oral and written communication, in English, in informal, formal and academic settings
• business and academic behavior in different cultures
• theory of teambuilding and team roles
• environmental issues related to engineering work
• systematic innovation practices.

Skills

The student can:

• plan, manage and execute a project
• plan, write and complete a collaborative report to a high technical standard
• search for, synthesize, critically analyze and correctly reference source material(s)
• hold technical and academic presentations in English for expert and non-expert audiences.

General Competence

The student can:

• work in a team to produce a written report on an industrial/academic subject
• function in an multinational and multidisciplinary environment
• reflect on their knowledge, development and contribution in multidisciplinary groups.

There are two semester-long supporting courses:

• Project Planning and Management
• English and Academic Writing

In addition, there are individual workshops on the following topics:

• Team-building
• Cross-cultural communication
• Sustainability

Additional guest lectures and workshops may take place over the course of the semester.

There is also the option to take a Norwegian Language and Culture course (5ECTS).

The Supporting Courses consist of lectures, classroom teaching, group work, peer feedback and assessment, practical workshops, and individual and group assignments.

An attendance rate of at least 80% across all supporting courses, guest lectures and workshops is required to qualify for grading of the portfolio.

Mid-term oral presentation is obligatory coursework, must be approved to qualify for final grading.

The portfolio assessment for the Supporting Courses consists of seven assignments:

• Four group assignments (3-5 students) that span both Project Management and English and Academic Writing, supporting the main EPS project.
• Two individual assignments for English and Academic Writing.

The four group assignments are graded as a whole. All group members receive the same grade.

The two individual assignments are graded separately for each student.

The final grade for each student is a combination of the group grade (60%) and the two individual assignment grades (40%). 

All forms of support materials are permitted. All source material must be appropriately referenced. 

The portfolio exam is assessed as a whole and graded A-F.

A grading scale from A to E is used, where A denotes the highest grade, E denotes the lowest, and F denotes a fail. Grades are assigned according to the Assessment Criteria for Bachelor's Theses in Engineering set by the Norwegian Association for Higher Education Institutions.

The portfolio examination cannot be appealed.

Two internal examiners. The two Supporting Course teachers (one for Project Management and one for English and Academic Writing) approve the assignments and assess the portfolio as a whole.

Tengel Sandtrø (Project Management) and Tom Muir (English and Academic Writing).